No-vacation Nation

[Georgia16 2,858]

Curious, why if the number of days off is such an issue anyone moves to the USA or get jobs here? Agreed, that 2 weeks sucks but that is just part of the package. No one is forced to move to the US and why not have your spouses move to your countries where they can maybe get a job and 30+ days off?

Not everyone have the option of the US spouse moving away from US.

[ExPatty 502]

The US does need to take a lesson from other countries, but I have had at least 3 weeks vacation almost immediately when I started working and currently have four (I'm not a high level exec, either).

Two weeks is junk and not to say it's rare, but it's not rare to have more than two weeks, either.

[statmania 12]

Not everyone have the option of the US spouse moving away from US.

We all have options, the choice may not be easy. One spouse/s.o. moves away from what they have in their home country. That decision, I hope, was based on all information about what would be gain or lost through immigration to a new country. It is just a known fact that the US has no mandatory paid days off and that the average number of days for paid vacation is 10.

[rutabaga 209]

Because there's more to picking a country where you're gonna live than just the number of vacation days. Just because the US may be better overall than country X doesn't mean that everything there is better (maternity leave is a far bigger issue IMHO than paid vacation days when it comes to the States) and that no one's allowed to complain about it or wish it were better.

[Georgia16 2,858]

We all have options, the choice may not be easy. One spouse/s.o. moves away from what they have in their home country. That decision, I hope, was based on all information about what would be gain or lost through immigration to a new country. It is just a known fact that the US has no mandatory paid days off and that the average number of days for paid vacation is 10.

I don't think you get it right. I'm leaving my country so I can be with the man I love and since he can't come here I'll go there.

Yes, we are spoiled with 5-6 weeks vacation every year (This without holiday and sick days) And YES I enjoy having a lot of vacation. Does it mean we don't work hard? No not at all. Does it mean we won't work in the US, of course not.

Also here we have 1 year off when we get a baby. we have a lot of benefits here and I'm very happy here so not all are leaving there country to seek a better life. I leave my country because of him! of course we will miss the free time we have been used to getting always and spending that time with family, children, friend, traveling or what ever and I think it's totally okay to want to find a job with much vacation if that makes that person happy.

I don't see anything wrong in asking questions about vacations and benefits for work.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Georgia16

[goolia 54]

"Don't get me started on this. It is a definite pet peeve of mine. Americans are so stressed out and work like crazy. Everyone just

falls in line and works like a slave. ....Why everyone lines up like good little soldiers and does not revolt I do not know either.

America behind the times as with health care."

That's why you and just about everyone else wants to live here - because Americans (most of us, anyway) work our butt off to make the USA the best country on the planet. And defend the Constitutional freedoms that you are enjoying every minute of your life (including on this website). America is not behind the times; it's your thinking that needs a little re-education. If you don't like America, find an airport. I'll buy you a one-way ticket.

Oh, get off your high horse. "You and just about everyone wants to live here" ... umm not quite.

Never mind the fact that there have been hundreds of reports that show workers in Germany (for example) are actually much more efficient on the whole than American workers BECAUSE of not in spite, of their additional vacation time and better work life balance. No need to be a bully - one can like the USA and still critique its flaws.

Fact of the matter is, this is one of those area's (in addition to healthcare) where America is most certainly behind the times.

[cyclone27 710]

Typically take a month off per year - traveling back to SEA with just 2 weeks is not doable. 10paid holidays and 10days shutdown for Christmas.

More and more big companies are seeing the benefit of life/work balance.

The more tenure you have normally means more holidays. I think the industry norm these days is 3 weeks.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Holidays and parental leave is dreadful. My Dh got 4 days off paid and that's it when our daughter was born last summer

[statmania 12]

I don't think you get it right. I'm leaving my country so I can be with the man I love and since he can't come here I'll go there.

Yes, we are spoiled with 5-6 weeks vacation every year (This without holiday and sick days) And YES I enjoy having a lot of vacation. Does it mean we don't work hard? No not at all. Does it mean we won't work in the US, of course not.

Also here we have 1 year off when we get a baby. we have a lot of benefits here and I'm very happy here so not all are leaving there country to seek a better life. I leave my country because of him! of course we will miss the free time we have been used to getting always and spending that time with family, children, friend, traveling or what ever and I think it's totally okay to want to find a job with much vacation if that makes that person happy.

I don't see anything wrong in asking questions about vacations and benefits for work.

I'm certain I have it right. Perhaps you noticed I didn't say anything about how hard anyone worked anywhere. Nor did I say anything about someone leaving the US for a "better life". Nor do I know your particulars but I do know we all have choices, and to say your man "can't" go there is an oversimplification. Maybe it is more difficult or he has a better income but people immigrate to the UK regularly.

Simply I stated why do people leave their country to come the US? The OP asked about benefits but in the form of complaining about time off and that information is readily available to anyone to search. There is no mandated time off which means the OP and everyone can negotiate with potential employers the number of days off they will receive, and for that matter what benefits they will receive. There is no magical answer to the original OP's question other than find a job the offers the benefits you want/need.

[Georgia16 2,858]

I'm certain I have it right. Perhaps you noticed I didn't say anything about how hard anyone worked anywhere. Nor did I say anything about someone leaving the US for a "better life". Nor do I know your particulars but I do know we all have choices, and to say your man "can't" go there is an oversimplification. Maybe it is more difficult or he has a better income but people immigrate to the UK regularly.

Simply I stated why do people leave their country to come the US? The OP asked about benefits but in the form of complaining about time off and that information is readily available to anyone to search. There is no mandated time off which means the OP and everyone can negotiate with potential employers the number of days off they will receive, and for that matter what benefits they will receive. There is no magical answer to the original OP's question other than find a job the offers the benefits you want/need.

I'm not from the UK and no my Fiancé can't move maybe later in life but not the next couple of years.

I think you are totally over reacting what the point of this thread was with OP and why ...

[statmania 12]

I'm not from the UK and no my Fiancé can't move maybe later in life but not the next couple of years.

I think you are totally over reacting what the point of this thread was with OP and why ...

My apologies for getting the country you are from wrong, doesn't change the point. Overreacting? I don't think so. Why do prefer that I not express my own opinion? Seems you don't like what I have say. Good luck in your journey.

[Bostorican 17]

I'm the USC and my biggest adjustment has been having to explain to my wife's family that the entire country doesn't shut down for 2-3 weeks at the end of the year and that we can't visit every December because it would use every minute of my paid time off, every year. And, don't get me started on the 22 holidays/year they have off vs my 8!

Lol.... Tell me about it My wife is from Brazil and its something I have to explain to the family every year.... I feel your pain..

[Sticky 21]

Not all jobs offer such a bad vacation policy. It usually depends on your skill level, and tenure. I work for a local government agency and receive 12 paid holidays, 18 paid vacation, 4 paid personal, 10 paid undocumented sick and unlimited paid sick time with a physicians letter. For every year you are here you are granted additional vacation time. As far as my field goes that is considered low. However, that would pretty much allow me to take a day off almost every week without an issue. It is just a matter of putting in your time and earning the better leave packages. It is not hopeless though.

[kris&me 572]

understand also that most companies require you work a year before you are able to vacation / but you will have several holidays off such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, etc. the catch is on any 3 day weekend trying to go to a resort area, they want you to pay for 4 days (such as the hotels in Florida)

Try working for a temp agency working when you want and taking as much time off as you require / that worked for me when my husband had a stable job but was transfered several times.

[londongal 17]

Curious, why if the number of days off is such an issue anyone moves to the USA or get jobs here? Agreed, that 2 weeks sucks but that is just part of the package. No one is forced to move to the US and why not have your spouses move to your countries where they can maybe get a job and 30+ days off?

Custody reasons means my fiance cannot leave the US right now... Thanks for your input though.